Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan – The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) and the Department of Science and Technology-Regional Office No. 1 (DOST-RO 1) held a meeting on March 1, 2023 to discuss collaborations that will further strengthen the implementation of the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program.
The said program is a package of science and technology intervention that aims to build empowered, progressive, and resilient communities. The target beneficiaries of the program are communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, marginalized sectors (e.g. farmers and fisherfolk associations, etc.), communities with conflicts, indigenous people, and women’s organizations.
During the meeting, Mr. Decth-1180 P. Libunao, DOST-RO 1 Senior Science Research Specialist/Project Leader, discussed the five components of the program, namely:
- Livelihood/Economic Enterprise Development;
- Health and Nutrition;
- Human Resource Development;
- Environmental Protection and Conservation; and
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation.
Meanwhile, ATI-RTC 1 Center Director Dr. Rogelio C. Evangelista underscored that the Center can majorly intervene in the Livelihood/Economic Enterprise Development component of the CEST Program through trainings, technology demonstration, advisory services, information, education, and communication services, and other extension activities.
Furthermore, Dr. Evangelista associated the CEST Program with the Convergence Initiative or Timpuyog Program of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Network 1 (RAFEN 1) dubbed as, “Timpuyog idiay Away, Dur-as inna Iburay” or “Damayan sa Barangay, Ginhawa Ibibigay”. He suggested extending the program to the member agencies of the network as he cited their significant contribution during the realization of the Timpuyog Program and in the same manner, they can also participate in the attainment of the other component of the CEST Program.
As a jumpstart to this new partnership, Dr. Evangelista, who also chairs the RAFEN 1, invited the DOST-CEST Project Team to present the program, specifically the results of their community needs assessment, in the network’s first quarterly meeting scheduled on March 29, 2023.
